Thousands form human chain protest in Chavakachcheri

[TamilNet, Monday, 20 December 2004, 11:13 GMT]Thousands of Tamil civilians in Thenmaradchchi division in Jaffna district held a human chain agitation campaign on either side of A-9 highway Monday morning demanding the Government of Sri Lanka (GOSL) to resume peace talks with the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) on the basis of Interim Self Governing Authority proposals (ISGA) by the latter. Protestors carried placards and shouted slogans holding hands along the A 9 Jaffna-Kandy road from Kodikamam to Kaithady, sources said. The campaign has been organized by the civil groups federation in Thenmaradchchi.

Tamil National Alliance (TNA) parliamentarians Messrs N.Raviraj, Pathmini Sithamparanathan and M.K.Sivajilingam and several leading citizens participated in the event, sources said

At the conclusion of the human chain agitation compaign, a memorandum was handed over to the Thenmaradchchi Divisional Secretary Mr.S.Srinivasan addressed to the President Ms Chandrika Kumaratunge, sources said.

The two-page memorandum appealed to the President to take immediate action to resume peace talks with the LTTE, which has been accepted by Tamil people as their sole representative. The memorandum further requested the President to take steps to restore normalcy in the lives of Tamil people and to find a lasting peace by meeting the legitimate political aspirations of them, sources said.

" Tamils feel that the GOSL is preparing its armed forces for another war. Tamils hate war. They are prepared to achieve their lost rights through peaceful negotiation," said the memorandum.

Steps are afoot to hold similar campaign in other parts of Jaffna peninsula and in the entire NorthEast in days to come, sources in Chavakacheri told.